Decline in Work and TVARRIS; TVOT Fall General Meeting; If You Paid into OMERS; Personal Email Please; Smaller Class Sizes; New Members Meeting with ETFO Provincial;

 

 

Teacher Absences and TVARRIS - The TVOT Local continues to hear from members about the lack of work this school year. The Local has discussed this with TVDSB had have been told that permanent Teacher absences are down as there has been less illness and less PD being offered during the school day. We can report that the Board's use of uncertified instructors has also greatly diminished, though schools seem to be finding ways within the building, to cover absences.

The TVOT Local is also hearing many complaints about TVARRIS - the Thames Valley Absence Reporting and Replacement System. It seems members are experiencing fewer issues job-shopping when using a computer, than they find with the TVARRIS App. That being said, if members can send screenshots of any "glitches" or difficulties to us at etfotvot@gmail.com  that will assist us in our conversations with HR. Please note, that when job-shopping, you will only see jobs at schools that you have selected in your TVARRIS profile so members may want to select additional sites.  Remember that the majority of our membership live in one of the cities, so consider adding some rural schools - they are often a very pleasant change from the urban ones.

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It was nice to meet so many of  you at our "Got Your Back" event last week. We appreciate that you took time to meet colleagues, enjoy a lovely dinner and find out a bit about your Local and the Collective Agreement. Remember, that your Local is here to respond to your questions and provide support, so don't hesitate to contact us at 519-641-3936 or etfotvot@gmail.com.

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Registration is now open for the TVOT Fall General Meeting

mail@etfotvot.com / 519-641-3936

If you began as an Uncertified Instructor with TVDSB, you contributed to the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS). When you became certified, this changed and you began contributing to the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP). To ensure that your OMERS contributions are not lost, newly certified members must contact OMERS directly https://www.omers.com/ and instruct them to transfer these previous contributions to OTPP. This does not happen automatically - you must apply for a transfer or you will lose these contributions.

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Be professional – Don’t use the TVDSB system for personal correspondence. There is no privacy when an employee uses the Board’s property whether it is a TVDSB computer or the Board’s Outlook email system (even from a home computer). All such usage must be appropriate and related to your employment with the Board.  Inappropriate use of such equipment could result in the Board limiting or revoking your access and possible discipline.

The Union asks members to please use a personal email address when contacting the Local.

Visit https://www.buildingbetterschools.ca/ 

Every child deserves to be seen, heard, and supported. But in Ontario, too many students are packed into overcrowded classrooms — and it’s hurting their ability to learn

Smaller classes would mean:

• More individual support for every child’s learning needs
• More space for teachers to identify and support learning challenges early
• Less classroom violence — and safer, calmer classrooms for our kids

The facts:

• Grades 4–8 have no cap on class sizes
• 10% of Kindergarten classrooms have upwards of 32 kids
• The Ford government has had seven years to fix these issues but they still haven’t acted

It doesn’t have to be this way. Together, we can demand smaller classes that give every student the chance to thrive.

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3 Ways to Celebrate Financial Literacy

 Month

   

November is Financial Literacy Month!

Talking about money is not easy but let’s normalize it. This November, we’re embracing the theme “Talk Money!” to help break the stigma around financial conversations. 

Whether you have debt on your mind, are budgeting for the future, or curious about different types of investments, Educators Financial Group can support you every step of the way. 

Here are three ways you can learn with Educators Financial Group this Finanacial Literacy month:

1.     Fast-track your financial literacy by signing up for a free 5-day mini course. In this 5-part email series, you’ll learn how to manage your debt, build a successful financial plan, maximize your money through tax-saving strategies, and more.

2.    Get your questions answered by an Educators Financial Advisor. Book a call with an Educators Financial Advisor to discuss your finances and create a plan that works for you.

3.     Attend one of our Financial Literacy Month webinars:

·         Financial Planning in your Early and Mid-Career on November 6, 2025, at 5:00pm

·         Investing - Empowering You to Make the Right Choices on November 12, 2025, at 5:00pm

·         Navigating Borrowing and Debt: Market Trends, Regulatory Updates, and Smart Strategies on November 18, 2025, at 5:00pm

Ready to take control of your finances? Book a call with an Educators Financial Advisor and get personalized advice tailored to your needs.

Let’s talk money!

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